East Kilbride care home team member up for national award

An East Kilbride care home is celebrating after its team member was shortlisted for a coveted national award. 

Yajna Tatoo Haloo, Care Assistant and Dementia Care Coach at Care UK’s Cathkin House, on Glasgow Road, has been named a finalist in the ‘Care Newcomer of the Year’ category at the National Care Awards 2023.

The National Care Awards celebrate talent and excellence within the care home sector, rewarding those who go above and beyond to provide outstanding care. 

Yajna has been recognised for her passion and throwing herself into her role, while also being praised for her commitment to providing high quality residential, respite and dementia care. 

Since joining Cathkin House and beginning her career in the care sector in 2022, Yajna has been singled out by her colleagues for her “dedication, compassion and kindness” and has quickly become a well-respected member of the team, as well as a favourite among residents’ families.

Although new to the care sector, Yajna has demonstrated a strong skill for coaching and leadership, taking on dementia champion and Namaste care training to be able to provide person-centred care for residents living with dementia, and sharing her insights with new colleagues joining the team. 

Yajna eagerly volunteered to take on the responsibilities of helping to plan and run activities, when the home was without an Activities Coordinator, spending regular one-on-one time with residents to learn their individual hobbies and interests. With residents at Cathkin House coming from diverse cultural backgrounds, Yajna organised an international dance day at the home to celebrate everyone’s cultures – even inviting dancers to visit residents in their rooms to ensure everyone was included in the special event. 

Commenting on Yajna’s approach to care, the Deputy Manager said: “[Yajna] is so happy and always puts the needs of the residents above everything else. Yajna is passionate about dementia care and those living with dementia, she is the first to offer her services when an activity is going on, she loves taking the residents out and fulfilling their wishes. Yajna is passionate about the wellbeing of her colleagues, often taking the time out of her day to lend an ear.”

Yajna said: “I’m thrilled to be a finalist in the ‘Care Newcomer of the Year’ category at this year’s National Care Awards. I would like to say a big thank you to each and every colleague for their support, I’m incredibly proud to be part of such a wonderful team.”

Nisha Sujeewon, Home Manager at Cathkin House, said: “We’re delighted that Yajna has been announced as a finalist in the ‘Care Newcomer of the Year’ category at this year’s National Care Awards.

“Yajna works incredibly hard to support residents to lead fulfilling lives through compassionate, person-centered care and this shortlisting is a wonderful recognition of her dedication. Having joined the Cathkin House team less than a year ago, she has already had a huge impact and is constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of residents, inspiring those around her to do the same – we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a win!”

The winners of the NCA Awards will be announced on 24^th November 2023.

Cathkin House provides dementia, nursing and nursing dementia care, and has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and has plenty of space indoor, and out, to relax.